Natural Protected Areas Research Articles

Economic Valuation of Landscape in Marinas: Application to a Marina in Spanish Southern Mediterranean Coast (Granada, Spain)

Assigning a monetary value to a landscape improves its importance. It helps to realize the magnitude of the benefits that can be obtained and represents the basis for applying protection and improvement policies. As a case study, we considered Marina del Este, located on the Spanish Southern Mediterranean coast, characterized by the presence of protected natural areas of great value and a rugged coastline beautiful to sailors. This study applies the analytic multicriteria valuation method (AMUVAN) to estimate the landscape’s economic contribution. This method combines the analytic hierarchy process and discounted cash flow analysis. A total of 16 participants were considered, all with knowledge about the marina, which included areas of the marina management, management organizations with competencies in the marina environment, commercial operation, and university professors. They weighted the importance of landscape concerning the rest of the marina activities, use versus non-use values, and the components of the total economic value (TEV) of the landscape within marinas as a natural asset. Results expressed that the landscape may reach a value of around 16.3 million euros. It represents more than 3000% of the value of the marina’s profit and loss account. A detailed analysis of the components of the TEV makes it possible to propose strategies to improve the economic value of the landscape.

World Health Organization critical priority Escherichia coli clone ST648 in magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) of an uninhabited insular environment.

Antimicrobial resistance is an ancient natural phenomenon increasingly pressured by anthropogenic activities. Escherichia coli has been used as markers of environmental contamination and human-related activity. Seabirds may be bioindicators of clinically relevant bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance genes, including extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL) and/or plasmid-encoded AmpC (pAmpC), in anthropized and remote areas. We evaluated cloacal swabs of 20 wild magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) of the Alcatrazes Archipelago, the biggest breeding colony of magnificent frigatebirds in the southern Atlantic and a natural protected area with no history of human occupation, located in the anthropized southeastern Brazilian coast. We characterized a highly virulent multidrug-resistant ST648 (O153:H9) pandemic clone, harboring blaCTX–M–2, blaCMY–2, qnrB, tetB, sul1, sul2, aadA1, aac(3)-VIa and mdfA, and virulence genes characteristic of avian pathogenic (APEC) (hlyF, iroN, iss, iutA, and ompT) and other extraintestinal E. coli (ExPEC) (chuA, kpsMII, and papC). To our knowledge, this is the first report of ST648 E. coli co-producing ESBL and pAmpC in wild birds inhabiting insular environments. We suggest this potentially zoonotic and pathogenic lineage was likely acquired through indirect anthropogenic contamination of the marine environment, ingestion of contaminated seafood, or by intra and/or interspecific contact. Our findings reinforce the role of wild birds as anthropization sentinels in insular environments and the importance of wildlife surveillance studies on pathogens of critical priority classified by the World Health Organization.

Responses of spatial relationships between ecosystem services and the Sustainable Development Goals to urbanization

Ecosystem services (ES) are the important component supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) realization. In recent decades, rapid urbanization has strongly affected the relationship between ES and SDGs, resulting in the decoupling of ES and SDGs. However, the key urbanization factors dominating the relationship between ES and SDGs are still unclear. In this study, a structural equation model was constructed to explore the impact path and its change of urbanization structure and scale factors on the relationship between ES and SDGs. The results showed that the economic urbanization structure indicator (Engel coefficient) under the influence of technology import significantly impacted the relationship between ES and SDGs in different periods. Under the influence of changes in urban and rural population, population urbanization structure indicator (labor force population proportion) had significant impact on the relationship between ES and economic SDGs, which was significantly stronger in the period of 2010–2015 than in the period of 2000–2005. Land urbanization scale indicators (construction land proportion, and protected natural area proportion) also significantly impacted the relationship between ES and SDGs. Especially for ecological SDGs, the negative impact of construction land on protected natural area increased significantly in the period of 2010–2015, which might further weaken the ES's contribution to SDGs. This study highlighted that along with the continuous transformation of China's society, the key impacts on the relationship between ES and SDGs resulted from the urbanization indicators of scale as well as structure, which provided an extensive support for the sustainable development and social transformation of developing countries and regions.

Tracing the historical agency of wild animals in the archives: Methodology and multidisciplinarity in posthumanist political ecology

This article contributes toward advancing methodological innovation in posthumanist political ecology by addressing the challenge of tracing the historical wild animal agency in the archives. The methodological innovation that I propose integrates behavioral ecologists’ findings of animal cognition and cultures, the historical records of wildlife ecologists, and the techniques of reading along and against the archival grain. I illustrate this methodological approach using the case of Yosemite National Park from 1915 to 1945 to trace the historical agency of black bears (Ursus americanus) in processes of multispecies placemaking in Yosemite Valley. I collected evidence for this illustration from several archives of the U.S. National Park Service and Yosemite National Park. A secondary purpose of this illustration is to demonstrate that national parks and protected areas are particularly rich and productive sites for investigating the historical agency of wild animals. I conclude that political ecologists can productively use this methodological approach to move wild animals from the category of passive objects of history to that of knowing, purposeful subjects with historical agency.

TOURISM, NATURAL PROTECTED AREAS AND OPEN SOURCE GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract. The Covid-19 outbreak has greatly impacted society behaviours fostering proximity tourism and valorising the social role of peri-urban natural protected areas as key locations for outdoor activities. FOSS and FOSS4G can play a critical role to support the value creation for these sites. This work evaluates its application in the context of two different protected areas for the creation of 3D digital products, the monitoring of touristic fluxes and the conduction of parks management activities. To this aim three solutions that copes with the mentioned aspects are presented and gaps, weakness and limitations evaluated. The investigated solutions consists in: the data workflow from survey to 3D rendering using Blender and GIS plugin; the touristic fluxes monitoring system based on a machine learning algorithm for image recognition from captured video data streams and istSOS; and finally the park assets management system which is based on PostGIS and OpenLayers.

Impact of the long-time armed conflicts on the ecological safety of industrial objects


 
 
 The article analyzes the consequences of pollution from industrial enterprises, as well as the risks of disruption of operation and flooding of mines. The armed conflict in the East of Ukraine led to serious environmental consequences – it is the pollution of groundwater, water bodies, air pollution, decommissioning of large areas of arable land, destruction and damage to objects of the nature reserve fund, forest fires, etc. It has been shown that in areas where the armed conflict continues, there has been significant pollution of the environment with chemical toxic substances, metal fragments and heavy metals due to artillery shelling and the use of explosives. As a result, numerous funnels were formed, which mutilated the land and destroyed natural protected areas, flooded mines, built fortifications, ditches, and damaged sewage and water supply networks. Risks associated with damage to communications, businesses and other facilities that pose an increased environmental risk, increase the scale of the negative impact. The problem of flooding of mines and excessive mineralization of waters, which are the part of the production process, is very relevant for both Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Solving this problem requires significant efforts from both the Ukrainian state and international environmental organizations. The main problem is that the mines are located in both controlled and uncontrolled by the Ukrainian government. The fate of coal mines in the territory not controlled by t government of Ukraine is uncertain and requires control by international organizations that are able to conduct monitoring activities. The coal industry in the EU is at «coal-out phase», i. e. at the stage of gradual abandonment of coal mining. First of all, this is dictated by the EU’s course to reach a carbon-free economy by 2050, which means the gradual abandonment of coal generation and the transition to renewable energy sources. And also in accordance with the EU Directive No787 in 2010 On the need to close unprofitable mines.
 
 

ROMANIA'S NATIONAL AND NATURAL PARKS AND THEIR ECOLOGICAL AND ECOTURISTIC IMPORTANCE

Ecotourism is essential to protect and preserve the natural and cultural heritage, to develop local communities socially and economically and to increase the environmental education. To conserve the biological diversity, Romania has established many protected natural areas (over 7% of the country's area or about 18% if Natura 2000 sites considered). Romania has 32 protected natural areas of national interest: the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, 13 national parks and 18 natural parks. Besides these major protected areas, there are 941 scientific reserves, nature monuments and nature reserves nationwide, exceeding 300,000 hectares. Although Romania has a significant ecotourism heritage with great potential for valuation and an adequate legislative framework, ecotourism is still a fairly narrow segment of tourism market, facing many problems, such as: poor local cooperation, modest national and international promotion, limited supply, poor diversification, poor development of ecotourism infrastructure in protected areas, labor migration, low level of training of those employed in the field. Using a proper management and infrastructure, these protected areas could receive more visitors, which would increase tourism revenue and improve the current precarious situation of financing protected areas.

Conceptual framework for the management of conservation sites

Introduction. The close links between conservation sites, ecosystem services, and public well-being point to the importance of preserving the integrity and ecological sustainability of ecosystems.The aim of the article is to design strategies for the development of natural protected areas that will enable a timely response to changes in socio-ecological-economic systems and rapid adaptation to global challenges.Research methods. The methodological basis of the study is general scientific and special methods: generalization, comparison, systematic approach, SWOT-analysis, Analytic Hierarchy Process.Results. The modern state of natural protected areas in Ukraine is characterized. The management concepts of conservation sites as VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity), sustainable development and ecosystem approach are described. The mechanism of the natural protected areas development strategy is generalized. The Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve (Germany) was chosen as the object of research. The main characteristics of the conservation site, features of functional zoning, main types of activity and the existing management system are given. The SWOT-analysis of the status and tendencies of the biosphere reserve’s development was carried out. The model of multi-criteria optimization for choosing the effective strategy was developed. A survey of different groups of stakeholders on the prospects of tourism and recreation development in the territory of the biosphere reserve was carried out. The results of the expert evaluation of the strategies priority are presented. The foreign experience of natural protected areas management in Ukraine is offered taking into account institutional and socio-economic conditions. Perspectives. The results of the study have established the relationship between the ecological and socio-economic systems, identified market and non-market benefits of ecosystem services, requirements for maximizing public well-being, features of adaptive management and strategic decisions making in management conservation sites.

Challenges for Social Participation in Conservation in the Biocultural Landscape Area in the Western Sierra of Jalisco

The protection of biocultural heritage has generated alternative proposals for the conservation of rural areas. Varied organizations collaborate in a pioneering conservation model, the Biocultural Landscape (BL), where local participation is paramount, that operates in the Western Sierra of Jalisco. The objective of this work was to analyze social participation, conditions, and characteristics of the model based on the WWF and IUCN guidelines. Information about the context, management, and planning was collected and synthesized. The data of territorial management, conservation, knowledge, and local conflicts about participatory processes were collected from 12 stakeholders and analyzed with ATLAS.ti software. It was found that, although local people are familiar with the concept of the protected natural area and the BL model, they cannot clearly identify its objective. The most informed are the interested population that collaborates closely. There are conflicts of interest between those who collaborate directly with the BL and those who do not, which have been resolved through the active participation of the different levels of government and experts who have intervened as mediators. Environmental awareness about the importance of conservation has been achieved by integrating the communities. Given that it is not a restrictive protection model and the rules were created in conjunction with the community, local participation is encouraged.

Destination Images of Africa Reflected in Social Media Photographs

Nature-based tourism is important in Africa, but do tourists show natural resources when they share destination image(s) on social media and for which of the 54 countries? For the over 11 million photographs from Africa on Flickr, most were from South Africa (15%), Egypt (14%), Morocco (11%), Kenya (8%) or Swaziland (7%). Using a content analysis of 100 photographs per country we found they mostly show aspects of tourism (62%), particularly nature-based tourism (38%) such as wildlife (16%) and landscapes (20%), but also ‘traditional’ cultures (21%). Using linear models, we found that international tourism, economic factors, and nature (biodiversity and protected areas) explained much of the variation in the number and content of photographs among countries in Africa. While recognizing limitations with social media, and the small sample used, these results provided insights into how these destinations are perceived, which on Flickr reflected an ‘out of Africa’ nature-orientated view. HIGHLIGHTS Photographs posted to social media can provide insights into people engaging with nature as tourists These photographs can be an inexpensive tool when assessing destination images including among countries Destination image for some countries in Africa as seen on Flickr focus on nature and ‘traditional’ cultures

Moss cover and browsing scores as sustainability indicators of mountain ungulate populations in Mediterranean environments

Here, we aimed to define ecological indicators of environmental change for monitoring the effect of a reintroduced species, the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica), over the vegetation of a natural protected area with contrasting habitats. This species was reintroduced 30 years ago in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, Spain, and its population has since grown exponentially, reaching high densities in some areas. We tested the suitability of two complementary indicators: browsing damage on woody species and the percentage of moss cover loss on rocky outcrops. For this purpose, we used a mathematical approach to zone the natural protected area according to the historical presence of the species and established five different Iberian ibex pressure classes (Classes I–V). Our results showed a direct link between Iberian ibex pressure and vegetation status. Model predictions suggested 10% moss loss in the areas with low pressure (Class I) but 64% loss in the areas with high pressure (Class III), mostly due to ungulate trampling on rocks. Similarly, browsing damage increased with increasing pressure classes for different woody species. Low palatable plant species such as Pinus spp. showed little change in browsing damage for increasing ungulate pressure whereas more palatable plants (e.g., Erica arborea) showed significantly greater browsing damage variation across pressure classes (i.e., high sensitive to herbivory pressure). Both, moss cover on rocks and widely distributed palatable woody plants proved useful ecological indicators for monitoring ungulate populations in mountainous areas with a diverse array of habitats (e.g., rocky vs. woody). This methodology may help select the most suitable indicators for each type of ecosystem or dominant habitat in ungulate-dominated ecosystems.

Optimization strategy of national park resource utilization system—Take Bawangling Zone of Hainan Tropical Rain Forest National Park as an example

The national park with Chinese characteristics is the highest level of protection of a kind of natural protection, its establishment marks the park will implement the strictest ecological protection means. It is of great value to construct the utilization system of national park resources under the new natural protected area system in the new era to avoid the misunderstanding of “ecological protection only” and explore how to carry out the sustainable utilization of resources in the reform of national park system and mechanism. According to the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Delphi method, the evaluation framework, indicators, reference standards and weights of resource utilization under the national park system were determined in combination with the requirements of constructing the protected natural area system and the total value of resource ecosystem services (including harvest value, existence value and future value). Based on the application research of Bawangling zone of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, the optimal resource utilization system in the future was proposed, and two optimization strategies of ecological adjustment of resource utilization system and construction of suitable resource utilization system were put forward.

Livestock Grazing Impact on Species Composition and Richness Understory of the Pinus cembroides Zucc. Forest in Northeastern Mexico

In the pine forests of Mexico, disturbances are primarily due to cattle, horses, goat, and sheep grazing, particularly in communal grazing lands. The most evident disturbances are low tree recruitment, invasive shrubs establishment, species composition changes, and invasion of weeds dispersed mainly by livestock. The Sierra de Zapalinamé is a mountain range and natural protected area of northeast Mexico. We conducted the current study in this area in a forest stand of Pinus cembroides excluded from grazing in the last 25 years (1200 ha with pine forest vegetation and mountain chaparral) and another area nearby subjected to livestock grazing. Forest structure (basal area and density), tree species richness, total understory species richness, and understory species composition were analyzed at the control and grazed sites. Our results revealed that grazing has modified the understory species composition and reduced the evenness in the control plots. Therefore, to maintain species diversity and forest structure, we concluded that extensive grazing should be restricted for some areas or the number of animals reduced in zones of high ecological value.

Potential Current and Future Distribution of the Long-Whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi) in Amazonas and San Martin, NW Peru.

Simple SummaryThe long-whiskered owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi) is threatened by human activities and is currently listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Here, we geo-referenced long-whiskered owlet records, identified key environmental variables affecting their distribution, and predicted their current and future distribution (2050 and 2070) in the Amazonas and San Martin areas of northwestern Peru. Under current conditions, areas with “high”, “moderate”, and “low” probability for the distribution of X. loweryi cover about 0.16% (140.85 km2), 0.46% (416.88 km2), and 1.16% (1048.79 km2) of the study area, respectively. Moreover, under future conditions, the “high”, “moderate”, and “low” probability areas showed profits and losses in terms of habitat suitability. Importantly, the natural protected areas in Amazonas and San Martin, both in current and in the future conditions, do not cover most of the pivotal habitats for X. loweryi. Furthermore, it was evident that the combination of climate change and anthropogenic activities will lead to further habitat loss for this species. Therefore, to effectively conserve this species over time, it is strongly recommended that areas with “high” (and even “moderate”) probability and the main ecosystems that this species inhabits be designated as priority areas for research and conservation (including in natural protected areas).The IUCN has listed the long-whiskered owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi) as vulnerable due to the presence of few geographic records, its restricted range, and anthropogenic threats. Its natural history and ecology are largely unknown, and its distribution is widely debated; therefore, there is an urgent need for the real-time conservation of X. loweryi. In this study, 66 geo-referenced records of X. loweryi, 18 environmental variables, and the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) have been used to predict the current and future (2050 and 2070) potential distribution of X. loweryi in the Amazonas and San Martin regions of northwestern Peru. In fact, under current conditions, areas of “high”, “moderate”, and “low” potential habitat suitability cover 0.16% (140.85 km2), 0.46% (416.88 km2), and 1.16% (1048.79 km2) of the study area, respectively. Moreover, under future conditions, the “high”, “moderate”, and “low” probability areas present profits and losses in terms of habitat suitability. Based on the environmental variables, this species mostly inhabits areas with a forest fraction with presence of trees with an emergent tree canopy of ~10–30 metres and depends on Yunga montane forest habitats with high humidity but it is not dependent on bare cover area, crops, or grasslands. Nevertheless, most of the current and future distribution areas are not part of the protected natural areas of Amazonas and San Martin. Additionally, the combination of climate change and anthropogenic activities contribute to further losses of this species habitat. Therefore, from the management point of view, corrective and preventive actions will help to preserve this species over time.

Distribution and ecological risk of metals in an urban natural protected area in the Riviera Maya, Mexico.

Urbanization can negatively impact natural protected areas near or surrounded by cities, and such impacts include untreated wastewater discharge, leachates from dumpsters, e-waste, and road dust. In this research, we show that not only large cities with industry are prone to be polluted, but also young touristic cities with high population increase rate can suffer from urban contamination. We evaluated metal pollution in a natural protected area within a 50-year-old city without conventional industry that was likely contaminated by the urban sprawl around the protected area. We tested water, zooplankton, sediment and plant samples for metallic elements to evaluate their bioaccumulation in zooplankton, enrichment factors and geoaccumulation index values in sediments, and translocation factors in plants. Finally, we evaluated the ecological risk due to metal contamination. Metals at levels above our detection limit (20µg/L) were not found in the water and zooplankton samples. The sediments and plants in the storm drain section of the protected area had a greater concentration of metals and wastewater indicators (coliforms) than those in the rest of the lagoon. Moreover, signs of Al, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Pb, and Ti contamination were found in the plant tissues. We estimated that the ecological risk of this natural protected area surrounded by the city of Cancun (Mexico) ranged from mild to strong, with Zn being the metal of most concern. The results highlight that young touristic cities around the world will endure contamination from urban sources; signs or early warnings of contamination must be identified to prevent and resolve such issues.

Estimating the Recreational Value and Setting Entrance Fees during Early Development of Ecotourism Sites: the Case of Bataan Natural Park

Ecotourism sites are established to provide “sustainable tourism,” bring economic opportunities to the local communities, and can potentially augment funding for conserving protected areas by charging entrance fees. A dilemma, however, faced by managers during the early stages of the development of ecotourism sites is the uncertain effect of increasing entrance fees on demand. This creates an apprehension to use entrance fees as a sustainable financing mechanism for conservation. This study used a combination of revealed and stated preference approaches to provide information on the recreational benefits and empirical guidance in setting entrance fee surcharges for proposed improvements in two eco-tourism sites of Bataan Natural Park – specifically, Ambon-Ambon and Lumutan Eco-trail and Tala River. Count data regression models were used to estimate the consumer surplus of visitors for the current conditions. In contrast, the contingent behavior method was used to measure the visitors’ willingness to pay (WTP) for improvements in the site attributes. Results of the count data models indicate the total consumer surplus from the ecotourism sites in their current state is significantly higher than the site's cost of improvement and maintenance. Furthermore, tourists are willing to pay more than the currently charged entrance fees. Protest and uncertainty corrected mean WTP for the improved condition are approximately PHP 130.90 for a visit to the eco-trail and PHP 108.50 for a visit to the river. The optimal and revenue-increasing entrance surcharge is estimated to be within PHP 15–76 for the Tala River and PHP 15–114 for the Falls. The results may have implications on providing alternative financing for protecting and conserving other natural parks and protected areas in their early stages of development in the Philippines.

Resilience of native ant community against invasion of exotic ants after anthropogenic disturbances of forest habitats.

The positive association between disturbances and biological invasions is a widely observed ecological pattern in the Anthropocene. Such patterns have been hypothesized to be driven by the superior competitive ability of invaders or by modified environments, as well as by the interaction of these factors. An experimental study that tests these hypotheses is usually less feasible, especially in protected nature areas. An alternative approach is to focus on community resilience over time after the anthropogenic disturbance of habitats. Here, we focused on ant communities within a forest to examine their responses after disturbance over time. We selected the Yanbaru region of northern Okinawa Island, which is a biodiversity hotspot in East Asia. We compared ant communities among roadside environments in forests where the road age differed from 5 to 25 years. We also monitored the ant communities before and after disturbance from forest thinning. We found that the species richness and abundance of exotic ants were higher in recently disturbed environments (roadsides of 5–15 years old roads), where the physical environment was warmer and drier. In contrast, the roadsides of 25‐year‐old roads indicated the potential recovery of the physical environment with cooler and moister conditions, likely owing to regrowth of roadside vegetation. At these sites, there were few exotic ants, except for those immediately adjacent to the road. The population density of the invasive species Technoymex brunneus substantially increased 1–2 years after forest thinning. There was no evidence of the exclusion of native ants by exotic ants that were recorded after disturbance. Our results suggest that local ant communities in the Yanbaru forests have some resilience to disturbance. We suggest that restoration of environmental components is a better strategy for maintaining native ant communities, rather than removing exotic ants after anthropogenic disturbance.

Determination of priority areas for amphibian conservation in Guerrero (Mexico), through systematic conservation planning tools

Guerrero is one of the most diverse states of Mexico, containing a large number of endemic and endangered amphibian species. However, it is one of the less protected and studied states of the country. Here, we determined the potential distribution of all amphibian species in a risk category present in Guerrero and defined priority areas for amphibian conservation in the state. We modelled the potential distribution of 32 species using the maximum entropy modelling algorithm. These models were used to define priority areas through systematic conservation planning tools. The most important variables explaining species’ potential distribution were measures of climate variability, particularly temperature seasonality. The priority areas for amphibian conservation identified covered a total area of 12,212.72 km2 and contained an important proportion (almost a third) of the cloud mountain forests of the state. The most important planning units for meeting species targets and the most important planning units in terms of biodiversity overlapped in approximately the same planning units, located in the biogeographic regions of the Sierra Madre del Sur and the Pacific Coast. Finally, from the total priority areas identified, only 0.31% (38.17 km2) is currently protected within the existing natural protected areas in Guerrero. Thus, we consider that it is essential to protect additional natural areas in the state. Areas Voluntarily Destined for Conservation (ADVC) may be a good option; however, action must be taken to ensure the legitimacy of the processes by the local people and to avoid privileging only certain members of the community.

Assessing ecological interactions in urban areas using citizen science data: Insights from hummingbird–plant meta-networks in a tropical megacity

Urbanization is one of the most intensive threats to biodiversity worldwide. The rapid sprawl of urban settings often comprises a drastic landscape transformation due to the replacement of natural vegetation by impervious surfaces. However, cities can serve as critical refuges for some native fauna, particularly for pollinators. Here we used citizen data to contrast the structure of hummingbird-plant meta-networks across different greenspaces (natural protected areas, urban parks, urban gardens and street trees areas) in a tropical megacity. We compiled hummingbird-plant visitation records in Mexico City available in two citizen science resources: iNaturalist and eBird. We first determined whether the retrieved dataset was representative to estimate network metrics by calculating sample coverage and estimating species richness in different greenspaces. Then, we characterized network structure and plant importance for network organization according to plant origin, life form and pollination syndrome. We recorded 17 hummingbirds visiting 84 plant species, encompassing a total of 742 interactions. Natural protected areas and urban parks showed a higher richness of hummingbirds and plants. All networks had low levels of connectance, specialization, and nestedness. Modularity was significant across all networks with higher values in natural protected areas and urban gardens. Native and introduced plant species showed a similar contribution to network organization. Non-ornithophilous plants were most important in natural protected areas, while tree species were most important in street trees greenspaces. Our results provide evidence of generalization of hummingbird-plant networks in urban areas. Introduced species and non-ornithophilous plants were equally important for hummingbirds, suggesting an integration of alien plants with no specialized bird pollination traits into ecological networks in urban scenarios. Promoting conservation initiatives as pollinator gardens with key native species for hummingbirds across the city could contribute to the functional connectivity and restoration of ecological interactions in cities.

Investigating sacred natural sites and protected areas for forest area changes in Italy

AbstractForests will be critical to mitigate the effects of climate and global changes. Therefore, knowledge on the drivers of forest area changes are important. Although the drivers of deforestation are well known, drivers of afforestation are almost unexplored. Moreover, protected areas (PAs) effectively decrease deforestation, but other types of area‐based conservation measures exist. Among these, sacred natural sites (SNS) deliver positive conservation outcomes while making up an extensive “shadow network” of conservation. However, little is known on the capacity of SNS to regulate land‐use changes. Here, we explored the role of SNS and PAs as drivers of forest loss and forest gain in Italy between 1936 and 2018. We performed a descriptive analysis and modeled forest gain and forest loss by means of spatial binomial generalized linear models with residual autocovariates. The main drivers of forest area changes were geographical position and elevation, nonetheless SNS and PAs significantly decreased forest loss and increased forest gain. Although the negative relationship between SNS and forest loss is a desirable outcome, the positive relationship with forest gain is concerning because it could point to abandonment of cultural landscapes with consequent loss of open habitats. We suggest a legal recognition of SNS and an active ecological monitoring and planning to help maintain their positive role in biodiversity conservation. As a novel conservation planning approach, SNS can be used as stepping stones between PAs increasing connectivity and also to conserve small habitat patches threatened by human activities.